Student Financial Services

Financial Aid is support you may qualify for to help you as you pursue your Converse degree. Aid can come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or even student employment. The starting point for all financial aid is to apply to Converse and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid also called the FAFSA.

What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is an application developed by the federal government so that students can apply for aid at many institutions at the same time. It is free to complete, and it provides information to Converse that allows you to also qualify for other aid from the college and possibly South Carolina.

What are Scholarships, Grants, and Loans?
You may qualify for scholarships and grants from Converse, the federal government, or South Carolina through your academics, talent, or financial need. Scholarships and grants never need to be paid back, although some require you to maintain a certain GPA or credit hour limit.

While you should explore all opportunities for other aid first, loans are a common way to invest in your education and your future. Loans will need to be paid back, but many do not require you to start paying the loan until after graduation or dropping below full-time status. We can talk to you about responsible use of loans and how they can support the incredible value of a Converse experience.

1. Apply for an FSA ID

You and your parent should create an FSA ID prior to starting FAFSA on the web so that you can sign the application electronically and transfer tax information from the IRS. Learn how to create an FSA ID.

2. Complete Your FAFSA

You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online using Converse school code 003431.

The FAFSA application will open online in December  Simplify the process by using the IRS Data Retrieval option when your tax return data is requested – this saves you time, expedites the application process, and reduces errors. The FAFSA must be completed each academic year between December and the end of the academic year for which you are applying.  Please note: applying early ensures your application can be processed in a timely manner.

3. Complete Your Application and Filing between December and May 1st

Award letters are anticipated to be sent to newly Converse admitted students by the end of December.  We encourage you to complete your application for admissions and the financial aid process prior to November 1st for early letters but no later than May 1st for full consideration of all awards.

4. Send Your Final Transcripts and Other Documents

You will need to submit your final, official transcripts to the Office of Admissions once they are available. Additionally, some students may need to submit other information for verification purposes. Make sure to send your transcripts and other requested information promptly!  Failure to send documents in a timely manner may affect the amount of financial assistance you can receive or may result in disqualification for various types of aid

5. Keep Up with Student Communication

The majority of communications from the Student Financial Services will be sent to your Converse email account. You must review your email and daily announcements regularly to ensure you have the latest information about your financial aid status.

Fall of Senior Year
Complete your online application, send your high school transcript, and submit your ACT or SAT scores to Converse soon for the earliest response about your admission status.

November 1st
Make sure you have provided any additional documentation that has been requested by the Financial Planning Office (i.e. – worksheets, tax transcripts, other required information).

If you complete your application and are admitted by November 1, you may be invited to attend a Converse Scholars Day where you could receive additional scholarships.

December
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the earliest response about your financial aid package.

February 1st
If you complete your application file and are admitted by February 1, you may be invited to attend a Converse Scholars Day where you could receive additional scholarships.

May 1st
Many colleges require your enrollment deposit by May 1, which is National College Decision Day. With our rolling admissions process, we can continue to accept applications and deposits after this date.

June 30th
Submit your final high school and/or college transcripts. Many forms of financial aid require these documents to complete your award.

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for bill due dates.

The FAFSA requests demographic and income information does not always give students the opportunity to explain a circumstance that may impact his or her ability to pay for college.

For example, the household financial status on the FAFSA is not accurate based on special circumstances.

Students may submit a Reevaluation Appeal to request Converse University Student Financial Aid take special circumstances into account to do a reassessment of the FAFSA. The Department of Education does allow Converse the ability to consider adjustments to a student’s FAFSA when special or unusual circumstances exist, but in limited scenarios.

These changes may make a difference in a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), eligibility for Federal Pell Grant, and/or eligibility for Federal Direct Subsidized Loans.

Please note that Converse University is not required by law to process a Reevaluation & Special Circumstances Appeal. If you feel you have special circumstances, please explore the information below for further assistance or specifics that might apply to your special circumstance.

You may also contact a financial aid counselor to discuss if a Reevaluation Appeal might benefit you. Decisions by the University are final and cannot be appealed to higher administration or the U.S. Department of Education.

What qualifies as a Special or Unusual Circumstance?

When determining financial aid eligibility, the following may qualify as unusual circumstances:

• Loss or reduction of employment, wages, or unemployment compensation
• Exceptional medical and/or dental expenses
• Divorce or separation that occurred after the FAFSA was filed
• Death of a parent or spouse that occurred after the FAFSA was filed
• An abusive family environment
• Abandonment and/or estrangement by parents
• Parents cannot be located
• Refugee or asylee status
• Parent incarceration

What does not qualify as a Special or Unusual Circumstance?

The following circumstances would not be considered special circumstances:

• Parents refuse to financially support the student
• Parents are unwilling to provide verification information
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
• High debt
• High routine household expenses
• Voluntary Income Loss
• One-time income from 401K withdrawals, gambling winnings, etc.

If you have experienced one of the special circumstances above, Student Financial Aid may be able to reassess your Financial Aid Application. See the applicable section below for instructions on submitting a request.

Loss/Change in Income

FAFSA uses income information from two year’s prior. Many families can have income changes in two years. We also know that most families were impacted financially by COVID-19. According to a study by Discover®, 47% of respondents reported that their income decreased during the pandemic. If your current income is significantly less than what is reported on the FAFSA, you may consider submitting a request for an appeal review.

To help you determine if submitting an appeal may increase your financial aid offer, please consider the following:

• Converse University only awards institutional funds through merit awards & need-based awards. Institutional awards are not eligible for an increase based on this type of review.
• Most students who submit a review are seeking to see if they qualify for the Pell Grant, based on a change in income. The amount of Pell received is dependent on the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA. If your EFC is already $0, an appeal will not benefit you as your current FAFSA reflects maximum eligibility. The maximum Pell Grant award of a $0 EFC for 2022-2023 is $6,895.
• In comparing your current income to the FAFSA, consider gross year-to-date pay, severance pay, state unemployment, federal supplemental unemployment, and projected future employment.

If you feel that you may qualify for an adjustment, please review our Reevaluation & Special Circumstance Appeal form for more information about explaining your special circumstances and submitting any supporting documentation. Please return the completed form and all required documentation as one complete packet by mail or hand deliver to:

Converse University
Student Financial Aid
580 East Main Street
Spartanburg, SC 29302

Once submitted, a Student Financial Aid staff member will review your appeal within 21 business days and perform an estimated calculation to determine if a Reevaluation & Special Circumstances Appeal is appropriate. If determined that a Reevaluation & Special Circumstances Appeal will be beneficial, additional forms and information will be required.

Please note that all correspondence will go to the student’s Converse email.

Students should continue with their current payment plans with the NelNet until decisions are final. Students/Parents submitting this request after September 30th, may also be asked to file their current year taxes before finalizing a professional judgment review decision.

Submit a request for additional financial aid due to financial/personal hardship with the Student Financial Aid Office at 580 East Main Street, Carnegie Building, Spartanburg, SC 29302.

Dependency Override

Parent information is required on the FAFSA for all students who are under 24 years old, unmarried, do not have children or dependents they support financially, and are not active duty military or a veteran. If students are unable to provide parent information on the FAFSA due to a unusual circumstance, students can request a Dependency Override Appeal with the Converse University Student Financial Aid Office.

We realize that in limited cases there are extreme and unusual circumstances that make a student independent.

As a reminder, an unusual circumstance can be an abusive family environment, abandonment or estrangement by parents, parents cannot be located, or parents are incarcerated.

The following situations do not qualify as an unusual circumstance:

• Parents refuse to financially support the student
• Parents are unwilling to provide verification information
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency

If you feel that you may qualify for an adjustment, please review our Dependency Override form for more information and to explain your unusual circumstances and submit any supporting documentation.

Once submitted, a Student Financial Aid staff member will review your appeal within 21 business days and determine if you are eligible for a dependency override. If any additional forms or documentation is required, we will notify students via correspondence sent via the student’s Converse email.

Contact the Student Financial Aid Office with any questions or assistance with the Dependency Override process at financialaid@datsumoki.net or 864-596-9019.

Student bills are made available to you by logging in to your My. Converse Portal, and notification of your bill will be sent to your Converse email address. Instructions for viewing and paying your bill can be found in the Financial Aid Forms section on My.Converse You must be logged into my.datsumoki.net to view this information.

You can set up a monthly payment plan to spread your bill over as many as twelve months by using our NelNet Payment Plan.

Click here to see Converse’s Payment Plan Information & Schedules

For more information and with questions, please contact the Office of Student Billing.

Our staff is friendly, knowledgeable, accessible and here to assist students with questions regarding their account and assisting student with payment plans. We are located on the lower level of the Carnegie Building.

Some of the services we provide include:

• Petty Cash
• Processing payments and recording deposits
• Processing monthly billing statements
• Assisting students and parents with payment arrangements and questions regarding their accounts
• Process student financial aid refunds and book vouchers

• Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
• Understanding Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Veteran Educational Benefits
• Financial Aid for Study Abroad

Loan Information

• Direct Loan Entrance Counseling Procedures
• Direct Loan Exit Counseling Instructions

Additional Information

• Other Scholarship Opportunities and Helpful Websites
• The Converse Guarantee

• 2024-2025 Asset Information Form
• 2024-2025 Dependency Override Request
• 2024-2025 Dependent Verification Worksheet
• 2024-2025 Independent Verification Worksheet
• 2024-2025 Identity & Statement of Educational Purpose-Notarized
• 2024-2025 Identity & Statement of Educational Purpose-In Person
• 2024-2025 Non-Filer Statement-Parent
• 2024-2025 Non-Filer Income/Expense Verification Form
• 2024-2025 Request for Reevaluation & Special Consideration
• 2024-2025 Untaxed Income Verification Form
• 2024-2025 SC Residency Evaluation Form
• 2024-2025 SC State Aid Certification Form
• 2024 Summer Financial Aid Application
• 2024-2025 Federal TEACH Grant Application Form
• 2024-2025 How to Get an FSA ID without a SSN
• 2024-2025 Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling & MPN Instructions
• 2024-2025 Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling Instructions
• 2024-2025 Direct Parent PLUS Loan Basics
• 2024-2025 How to Create an FSA ID
• 2024-2025 Instructions for Viewing & Paying Your Bill

The following disclosures are in compliance with Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) reporting as required by the Office of Postsecondary Education.

• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of June 30, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Student Grant Disclosure as of June 30, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Student Grant Disclosure as of April 30, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Student Grant Disclosure as of March 31, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Disclosure as of March 31, 2022
• Higher Education Relief (HEERF III) Student Grant Disclosure as of February 28, 2022
• Higher Education Relief (HEERF III) Student Grant Disclosure as of January 31, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of December 31, 2021
• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of November 30, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Institutional Funds Disclosure as of December 31, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Strengthening Institutions Program Disclosure as of December 31, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Institutional Funds Disclosure as of September 30, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Strengthening Institutions Program Disclosure as of September 30, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief II Strengthening Institutions Program Final Disclosure as of March 31, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief II Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of March 31, 2021
• CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students Final Disclosure as of September 30, 2020
• Higher Education Relief Strengthening Institutions Program Final Disclosure as of September 30, 2020
• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of September 30, 2020
• Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (HEERF II) FINAL Disclosure
• CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students Final Disclosure as of July 2020